BYO - Melbourne + NYC

This week we are profiling our top 3 BYO restaurants in Melbourne and NYC. Going out for dinner, even to the local Italian, has become an expensive exercise these days so BYO restaurants are definitely a little friendlier on the pocket. It also means you can enjoy decent wine at bottleshop prices and not settle for pedestrian sav blancs at over inflated rates.

Top 3 - Melbourne BYO 

1. Matteo's - 533 Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy
It is rare in Melbourne to find a fine dining restaurant that allows you to supply your own wine so it was great to be able to compliment a good meal with some good wine and not have to pay silly money. But there is always a cost. It is $20 per bottle corkage which in BYO land is relatively high but still much cheaper than buying off the wine list.

2. Sigiri - 338 High Street, Northcote
This is a favourite of hubby and me. Excellent home style Sri Lankan and BYO (corkage is $2 per person) - a night out for 2 for under $100! Even if you are not a curry fan just go to sample the Hoppers (a bowl-shaped thin pancakes made from fermented rice flour) they are delicious.

3. Ablas - 109 Elgin Street, Carlton
A Melbourne institution Abla's introduced Melbournians to traditional Lebanese food and has remained a foodie staple ever since. It is difficult to get in due to its popularity and BYO status but worth booking in advance even if just to try the chicken and rice dish as pictured below. The corkage at Abla's is $2.50 per person.

Top 3 - NewYork

1. La Sirene, 558 Broome St., New York, NY 10013

So, the best BYO restaurants. Quite a challenge in the big apple. Until I realized that the 2, yes 2 restaurants downstairs from my apartment are BOTH BYO. La Sirene gets the better reviews and is packed until midnight every night. Its simple French home-cooking but its the cozy atmosphere that wins, and the feeling that you are sitting on the lap of your neighboring table is what you’re after this is perfectly cute. 

2. IVO and LULU - 558 Broome St., New York, NY 10013 40

 The other one is called IVO and LULU, right next door to La Sirene,  I know I’m lazy but really there’s not a lot of BYOB (as they call them) options in NYC. This one the atmosphere probably wins over the food, but when you have several bottles to get through, who really cares. The grilled avocado is the bomb and the service though slow is super friendly.

3. Tea and Sympathy - 108 Greenwich Avenue, New York 10011

Never thought I’d miss British food but when I walked past Tea & Sympathy in Greenwich Village recently I thought I’d better try it. With chicken and leek pie, bangers and mash and treacle tart in the menu, I felt all a bit nostalgic for the world renowned food I left behind. It was the BYOB that captured my attention more.  So very un-English.